The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
TURMOIL IN TORONTO.
Editor O'Brien Meets with a
Turbulent Reception.
His Speech Received with Mingled
Cheers and Kisses.

O turbulent reception in Toronto OH Tuesday
The train from Montreal containing the man
who had come all the way from Ireland to de-
nounce the Governor Generals treatment Of
his Irish tenants arrived in Toronto on time.
An excited mob of 4, ,00) people surged round
tie train, and when O'Brien emerged from his
coach, followed by Mr.. Kilbride, storm Of
mingled cheers, groans and misses greeted him
Mr.. O'Brien's sympathizers seemed to be in
the ascendant. When O'Brien alighted, his
hand was grasped by William Mulligan, ,Presi.
dent of the Toronto Irish National League
The two were Immediately surrounded
by dozen policeman, who, after fifteen min
utes hard work, pushed Mr.. O'Brien through
the crowd into his carriage. The Orangemen
howled and groaned like mad, and several
times made rush toward OBrien as il to
seize him. They were beaten back with clubs
by the police.
In the carriage with O'Brien and Kilbride
were seated President Mulligan and Secretary
P. P. Cahill, of Toronto. The carriage horses,
excited by the uproar, pranced wildly, and
there was another time Of excitement, but
the animals were finally quieted Then all
the police who were at the depot, to
the number Of 100, surrounded the
carriage. There were two files Of
mounted police in front of the carriage
carrying night sticks, marched on the sides
and at the rear of the carriage. Each officer
had strapped around his waist belt in which
was stuck large navy revolver and box of
cartridges. AS the carriage was slowly driven
from the depot and the crowd continued
cheering tumultuously for Lansdowne,
O'Brien, Salisbury and Gladstone, O'Brien
stood up i'll bis carriage, barred his head, and
cried:
tThree cheers for our friends in England
and the cause they are struggling for"
The Irishmen cheered and the others
groaned. The crowd followed the carriage
to the Rossin House, still cheering and groan-
ing. OBrien;s face was as placid and
cheerful as ever The police escorted O'Brien
into the hotel, and then guarded the hotel
doors for half an hour. Then the doors were
All hour, and by O:Brien, who stood in the
lower corridor of the hotel. They
were introduced to O'Brien by President
Mulligan, who is, by the way, the
business partner of Sir John Macdonald, the
Canadian Premier 0'Brien shook hands
with each of them. A large bouquet of
flowers was presented to him, and then the
inevitable address. There was a tremendous
cheer when Mr.. Mulligan got through, and
Mr.. OBrien, standing OF the hallway stairs,
said:
~ can hardly express my high apprecia-
tion of the manner in which the people Of
Canada have sympathized with and sup
ported this mission of olIrS. If the London
Times had its way it would be treason to love
US and death to defend. Thank God, the
London Times is not going to have its way
here in Toronto or anywhere else. 1t is cheap
enough to find summer friends, but this is the
ir1oa IN tocf fp no hr nd
gard of the people in Canada for Ireland,
and must say that it warns my heart to
find how gloriously the old instinct of your
Irish hearts has burst through every difficulty
and danger to be with US on behalf Of the
poor struggling Irish people,"
. While the OBriei reception was in pro-
gress at the Rossn House the hostile mob
outside the hotel shouted imprecations on
O'Brien's head. Cries of "Kill him!"
Course him." and "Hurrah for King
Billy!" were heard on every side. The
mob es long as no actual violence
was attempted. Mr.. OBrien was not at all
disturbed, and his voice rang out cheerily to
each man who was presented tohim. am
glad to meet you, s:r, and Ihope tohave your
sympathy for Ireland
In short time the mob outside dispersed
on its own motion. 1t was learned definitely
York county, at secret meeting, had de-
cided. by a small majority, not to interfere
with MIR. O'Brien by any officially ordered
movement. The Orangemen outrank the
Irish Catholics in the city five to one, and
popular feeling, numerically considered, was
against O'Brien.
At noou Company c., $50 men, of the
Dominion Regulars Corps, were placed under
arms i'll their barracks at the new fort, two
miles from Queens Park, where the meeting
was held.
The Queens Park is in the northern part Of
Toronto, and covers about fifty acres. Before
the crowd gathered the park presented a
really beautiful sight, with its trees just leaf
ing out and its bright green sward dotted
with dandelions. In the centre Of the park,
under a canopy of trees, S!ood the same plat
form from which Professor Goldwin Smith
and the Right Reverend Bishop Of Algoma
omous and untruthful speaker.
As early as o'clock people began to pour
up the wide Queens avenue which leads tc
the park, but the earliest Orangeman OF
Tory found solid body of Irishmen, 5,OW
strong, massed in front of the stand. By
o'clock Il, 900 people were there.
The policemen were big men. most OF then
Orangemen. The crowd did not manifest
its temper or its opinions until Mr. OBrien
arrived, a little after o'clock. His carriage
was escorted by twenty mounted policemen,
who forced way through the crowd. 1t
besides Mr.. O'Brien, Mr.. Kilbride
and Messrs. Mulligan and Cahlll OF the
National League.
Upon the arrival of the carriage began
scene of uproar and confusion of which To-
ronto never SOW tho like before, and which
lasted until the meeting closed. When the
Irishmen saw O'Brien they cheered wildly,
A,,r ~ hot inf fto oil
instant, from lot of men on the right OF the
stage, came series of yells, groans, songs,
shrIeks, and catcalls, so loud that people on
the platform had to shout to each other TO
make themselves heard.
President Mulligan stepped to the front OF
the stage and tried to speak, but the noise was
He could only shout into the ears
of the reporters.
forward, bowed low. The ovation that was
given him by his sympathizers was grand
one, and for a moment its mighty shout rose
above the din made by those hostile to him.
But his friends were not there to shout, but to
listen. and when he opened his
month to speak the noise made by
his enemies seemed to drive his
words back 1t was with the greatest diff
Guilty that the reporters, who stood right at
O'Brien's back and sides, could hear what he
said, and it was at once apparent that,
though no violence was meditated, it was the
settled determination of the crowd to prevent
his speaking
But Mr.. O'Brien was not dismayed. He
rtood erect with flashing eye and curling lip,
his whole body eloquent with Indignation,
and he hurled his sentences at the mob until
the entire speech he had intended to give
was delivered. During its delivery the mob
tried other tactics besides making noise.
They endeavored in vain to push the Irish